Parkin undefeated at USBC Queens

EULESS, Texas - Defending champion Missy Parkin of Lake Forest, Calif., is one of eight players still undefeated in match play at the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Queens.

Parkin, who qualified as the fifth seed, posted victories over Sandra Andersson of Sweden (642-613) and No. 12 seed Anne Marie Duggan of Edmond, Okla., (623-536) on Sunday at AMF Euless Lanes. As one of the top 16 players after qualifying, Parkin received a first-round bye in match play.

"Everything leading up to this tournament, all the tournaments I have been bowling in order to prepare, have got my game really sharp," Parkin said. "I'm very happy with the way I'm throwing the ball and my confidence is high, which always helps."

Lisa Noor of Mound, Minn., a former Team USA member, qualified at No. 27 but was able to win her first three matches, including a 678-582 victory over No. 6 seed Lindsay Baker of Brigham City, Utah, to remain among the eight undefeated players.

"I'm just trying to throw the best shots that I can and see what happens," Noor said. "I'm trying not to put any pressure on myself this time. I usually put a lot of pressure on myself."

No. 15 qualifier Katherine Lanehart of Eagle River, Alaska, edged No. 2 seed Anita Manns of Houston, 638-606, to stay unbeaten. Lanehart is making her second Queens appearance, having competed at the 2010 Queens in El Paso, Texas, where she "didn't do so well."

"I came in with the first goal of making the cut and then take it step by step and one ball at a time," Lanehart said. "I felt really good coming in. I've been bowling well at home and I'm really pleased with how I'm doing."

Josie Earnest of Nashville, Tenn., a member of 2012 Team USA and a five-time Junior Team USA member, sent top seed Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., to the contenders bracket with a 672-646 victory. Kulick had averaged 242 during the final five qualifying games on Sunday morning to earn the top seed for match play.

"I haven't had a lot of time to practice because I coach now and I travel a lot with the team," said Earnest, who is an assistant coach for the women's bowling team at Vanderbilt. "For me, it was really focusing on each shot because I really couldn't afford to give one up."

The other four remaining undefeated players are: Stefanie Nation of Grand Prairie, Texas; Olivia Sandham of Wichita, Kan.; Diandra Asbaty of Chicago, Ill.; and USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, who won the 2001 Queens.

The top 64 players in the 131-player field had their five final qualifying games on Sunday morning, after which the top 48 advanced to the double-elimination match-play bracket, which started Sunday afternoon. The final five players will advance to the televised stepladder finals. The final two players in the winners bracket will be assured a spot on the television show, while the final three spots on the show will come from the contenders bracket.

Match play continues Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern and BOWL.com's BowlTV will have live coverage. The finals, which will be held at the International Training and Research Center in Arlington, Texas, will be televised live on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.

The match-play portion of the Queens at AMF Euless Lanes is open to the public at no charge.

For more information and full results from the USBC Queens, visit BOWL.com/Queens.